Howard County, IN elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities
Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Howard County: 41 seats on 30 elected bodies. 30 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.
The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 27 local governments in Howard County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.
Kind of government
Census count (2022)
Listed on this page
County government
1
1
Cities, towns, villages and townships (3 municipal, 11 township)
14
10
School districts (school boards)
5
0
Special districts (elected boards)
7
0
Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).
About these counts
The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.
Who lives in Howard County
83,752people
40.7median ageU.S.: 38.9
$64,027 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
13.4%below the U.S.: 12.5%
20.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$165,000median home valueU.S.: $332,700
5.8%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.9%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.7%U.S.: 8.4%
51.3%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
17.1%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 4.1% · White 82.6% · Black 7.3% · Asian 1.4% · Other or more than one race 4.5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)
Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).
About these figures
The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.
Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.
Jobs in Howard County
4.6%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 5.7%. Indiana: 3.7%.
33,798people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
35,435in the September 2026, preliminary.
Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.
Every month, last two years
Month
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)
4.6%
1,637
33,798
35,435
August 2026
4.6%
1,619
33,719
35,338
July 2026
4.9%
1,733
33,767
35,500
June 2026
5.2%
1,831
33,651
35,482
May 2026
4.8%
1,723
33,860
35,583
April 2026
4.7%
1,656
33,593
35,249
March 2026
5.7%
2,016
33,303
35,319
February 2026
5.5%
1,951
33,235
35,186
January 2026
4.8%
1,697
33,639
35,336
December 2025
3.9%
1,379
33,879
35,258
November 2025
4.6%
1,635
33,833
35,468
October 2025
not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025
5.7%
2,040
33,730
35,770
August 2025
6.4%
2,299
33,758
36,057
July 2025
7.1%
2,585
33,961
36,546
June 2025
7.0%
2,562
34,024
36,586
May 2025
6.0%
2,184
34,119
36,303
April 2025
6.8%
2,470
33,847
36,317
March 2025
6.4%
2,316
33,922
36,238
February 2025
6.9%
2,496
33,778
36,274
January 2025
6.9%
2,512
33,970
36,482
December 2024
6.5%
2,411
34,497
36,908
November 2024
8.2%
3,070
34,309
37,379
October 2024
7.9%
2,890
33,504
36,394
Yearly averages
Year
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
2025 (11 months)
6.2%
2,225
33,893
36,118
2024
6.6%
2,426
34,278
36,704
2023
5.0%
1,770
33,771
35,541
2022
4.8%
1,719
34,203
35,922
2021
6.4%
2,370
34,897
37,267
2020
10.6%
4,131
34,952
39,083
2019
3.8%
1,484
37,104
38,588
2018
3.9%
1,527
38,008
39,535
2017
3.6%
1,452
38,651
40,103
2016
4.4%
1,761
38,491
40,252
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Indiana's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.4% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.
Crime reported in Howard County
374.5 per 100,0002025. Indiana: 254.4.
964.7 per 100,0002025. Indiana: 1,052.2.
3murders2025, 316 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
Year
Violent
Rate
Property
Rate
2025
316
374.5
814
964.7
2024
342
405.4
962
1,140.3
2023
362
432.8
1,051
1,256.5
By police agency (3)
Agency
Year
Violent
Property
People served
Kokomo Police Department
2025
287
749
60,224
Howard County Sheriff's Office
2025
28
61
22,843
Russiaville Police Department
2025
1
4
1,313
Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Indiana · the U.S.
Police staffing
1.43 per 1,000 residents2025, 3 agencies serving 84,380 people.
121sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
129civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (3), 2025
Agency
Officers
Civilians
People served
Howard County Sheriff's Office
40
109
22,843
Kokomo Police Department
79
20
60,224
Russiaville Police Department
2
0
1,313
Earlier years
Year
Officers
Per 1,000
Civilians
Agencies
2025
121
1.43
129
3
2024
120
1.42
125
3
Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.
Quick answers
Who is the Howard County County Assessor?
Melinda R Heady (Republican) is the County Assessor of Howard County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howard County County Auditor?
Jessica Secrease (Republican) is the County Auditor of Howard County, Indiana.
Who is the Howard County Clerk of the Circuit Court?
Debra C Stewart (Republican) is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Howard County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howard County County Coroner?
David E Granger (Republican) is the County Coroner of Howard County, Indiana.
Who is the Howard County Prosecuting Attorney?
Mark A. McCann (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Howard County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howard County County Recorder?
Torie M Kelley (Republican) is the County Recorder of Howard County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howard County Sheriff?
Jerry L Asher (Republican) is the Sheriff of Howard County, Indiana. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Howard County County Surveyor?
Gregory T Lake (Republican) is the County Surveyor of Howard County, Indiana.
Who is the Howard County County Treasurer?
Christie Branch (Republican) is the County Treasurer of Howard County, Indiana.
Who are the Howard County commissioners?
Jeffrey (Jeff) Lipinski (District 1); Jackie W Dodd (District 2); Robert B Bray (District 3); John J Roberts (County Council Member, District 1); Frank R Faulkner (County Council Member, District 2); Timothy J Cuthbert (County Council Member, District 3); George B Alexander (County Council Member, District 4); Martha J Lake (County Council Member, At-large); Brett A Sanders (County Council Member, At-large); Daryl L Maple (County Council Member, At-large).
What is the population of Howard County?
About 83,752 people, with a median age of 40.7; the median household income is $64,027 and 13.4% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County?
4.6% in September 2026 (preliminary): 1,637 people unemployed in a labor force of 35,435, against 5.7% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Howard County?
27 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal, 11 township, 5 school district and 7 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Howard County?
19: Center Township, Center Township, Center Township, Clay Township, Clay Township, Harrison Township, Harrison Township, Honey Creek Township, Honey Creek Township, Howard Township, Howard Township, Kokomo, Liberty Township, Liberty Township, Monroe Township, Monroe Township, Taylor Township, Taylor Township, Union Township. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.
Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Indiana Election Division's certified results of each seat's last election (the 2022 and 2024 generals and the 2023 municipal election, on enr.indianavoters.in.gov); county vacancies are filled by party caucus, so officials appointed since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.
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